EC to work with HEC over MPs' degrees verification

ISLAMABAD The controversy over the MPs fake degree issue further deepened Friday after the Election Commission (EC) announced that it was the sole competent authority to supervise the process of verification, and would get back to the Supreme Court to seek further guidance about implementation of its verdict. ECP is the sole competent authority to handle the process of MPs degree verification process, not the NA Standing Committee on Education led by Abid Sher ALI, MNA, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan told a hurriedly called pres conference. He said the Chief Election Commissioner had taken important decisions including nomination of a senior official of the Commission Muhammad Afzal Khan to supervise the process of verification of degrees of the legislators. He said that Afzal Khan would keep liaison with the Higher Education Commission and submit his findings to the Chief Election Commissioner after scrutiny of the evidence. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) also asked the Chairman Higher Education Commission to nominate a senior officer as focal person for coordination with the Election Commissions official. The HEC would pass on all information regarding verification of degrees to the Election Commission. He said the official of the nominated official of the Election Commission would be assisted by three other officials and can seek assistance from any individual or institution of the country. Secretary Election Commission said the information to be provided by the HEC , among other things, would include name of the educational institution, which issued the degree, the signing authority, and grounds on which the degree has been declared as genuine or fake. He said if prima facie the degree appeared fake, the Election Commission would initiate criminal proceedings against holders of such degree through Returning Officers and District and Session Judges. He said the Commission is empowered to take action against those who made false statements at the time of filing nomination papers for elections. The Secretary Election Commission also asked the Government to appoint members of the Commission at the earliest.